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Cold Weather Sleeping Bag Suggestions

Hi guys,

Heading out on my next trip in a few weeks and I have a problem.

My current sleeping bag just isn't keeping me warm at night. Admittedly, this was a cheap purchase but this time I'm looking to spend a little more, say up to $200, to ensure a comfortable nights sleep!

Ideally I'd love the bag to be able to deal with temperatures below -10 F.

Would you have any recommendations for bags or manufacturers? Any advice would be much appreciated!

For a good quality bag your probably going to spend more than $200 unless you don't care about size. My suggestion is to go with a high quality down bag with the highest full power you can afford. Then buy a liner to up it performance. Also the biggest issue if you are sleeping on a cot or a hammock is the breeze blowing under you drawing heat away from the compressed side of you bag. Your sleeping bag is basically just a way to trap warm air around you and if the fill is compressed it cannot trap the warm air. I would suggest some sort of cot drape or an underquilt in that instance. Others swear by insulated pads but I could never get comfortable on one. Best bet is to do your research and decide what's best for your situation. There's a lot more to a sleeping bag than there was in the 70's.

I used to work in a big sporting goods store in so cal years ago but we were big enough to get factory reps in to do seminars and such. The temp rating on a sleeping bag is the bag as a system with a sleeping pad underneath, ie. Thermarest, or the like. and a base layer on you. Anywhere the bag looses its loft it looses its insulation capability, like underneath you lying down. Another thing is length. A great bag will leave you cold feet if it's too short and gets pulled tight at your feet when you pull it up to your chin to cozy in for a good nights sleep. A good rule of thumb is 6" longer than you are tall. You'll notice backpacking mummy bags have a foot box for this reason. Space where you need it with as little weight as possible. If you are a bigger guy measure around your shoulders and chest and again add 6". So if the measurement is say 70" and you're 6' tall a 38"x78" would be about right in a rectangle bag. A little too big is better than a little too small but toooo big just wastes your body heat to warm space you aren't occupying. A slick, non-cotton liner will feel a touch colder at first but warms quicker than a cotton liner and slides on your base layer better keeping binding and twisting to a minimum which helps to maintain loft in the bag which keeps you warmer.
As far as brands go every one has something to offer it's just a matter of what is important to you, weight, packed size, price, ease of care, can it double, etc..

I Don't think the name of a manufacture has much to do with how warm a bag will keep you. I slept in an enclosed with plywood porch all winter in Fairbanks in a Military Goose Down mummy bag and didn't die ! lol actually it was fine, I'd look for the heaviest down filled bag you can find.

Tennier industries sleep system. They make the sleeping bags for the military. I believe they’re rated for up to -30*. I was issued one and use it almost every weekend. Back in February I camped up at job peak mountain in about 3’ of snow in a tent cot and had to unzip the sleeping bag halfway through the night. I had the light patrol bag, cold weather bag, and a goretex waterproof bag. You can use all 3 separately and button them together to keep you warm. You can find them on fleabay or amazon for a decent price.

[MENTION=3727]uglysami[/MENTION]
Thanks man. Actually there are too many options and I started to get anxious about the choice I made. Cause it's warmer now I went for a sleeping bag within my budget and I'll take your advice on the extras when I'm out in the cold again.

Tennier industries sleep system. They make the sleeping bags for the military. I believe they’re rated for up to -30*. I was issued one and use it almost every weekend. Back in February I camped up at job peak mountain in about 3’ of snow in a tent cot and had to unzip the sleeping bag halfway through the night. I had the light patrol bag, cold weather bag, and a goretex waterproof bag. You can use all 3 separately and button them together to keep you warm. You can find them on fleabay or amazon for a decent price.